Yelm, Washington
City in the United States in Thurston County
About Yelm
Yelm () is a city in Thurston County, Washington, United States bordering Pierce County along the Nisqually River. Its population was 10,617 at the 2020 census.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How Yelm is governed
Form of government not yet listed.
0 of 14 positions listed. Gray dashed boxes are placeholders waiting for a name.
Residents of Yelm
Registered voters elect the officials below.
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Mayor
Executive
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The city's chief elected official. Presides over the executive branch, proposes the budget and represents the city.
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City Manager / Administrator
Executive
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The professional administrator who runs day-to-day operations (in some cities appointed by the council instead of the mayor).
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Police Chief
Administration & departments
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Leads the police department.
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Fire Chief
Administration & departments
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Leads the fire and emergency services department.
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Public Works Director
Administration & departments
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Streets, water, sewer, and city buildings.
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Finance Director
Administration & departments
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The budget, taxes, and city accounts.
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Planning & Zoning Director
Administration & departments
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Land use, zoning, building permits.
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Parks & Recreation Director
Administration & departments
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Parks, programs, and public facilities.
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City Council
Legislative
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The elected body that passes ordinances, sets the tax rate and approves the budget.
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City Clerk
Administration & departments
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Keeps the official records, runs meeting agendas and, often, local elections.
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City Attorney
Administration & departments
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The city's lawyer; advises officials and prosecutes ordinance violations.
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Boards & Commissions
Legislative
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Citizen advisory bodies, such as planning, zoning appeals and library boards.
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Municipal Court
Judicial
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Hears traffic, ordinance and other minor cases.
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Municipal Judge
Judicial
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Presides over the municipal court.
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- Website
- ci.yelm.wa.us
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Population over time
From 6,848 in 2010 to 10,617 in 2020 (+55.0%).
Show the numbers
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 10,617 |
| 2010 | 6,848 |
History
The word "Yelm" is said to come from the Coast Salish word shelm or chelm, meaning "heat waves from the sun", referring to heat mirages.
The Yelm Prairie was originally inhabited by the Nisqually and provided good pasture for their horses. The first permanent nonindigenous settlers came in 1853 to join the Hudson's Bay Company sheep farmers, who already conducted business in the area.
James Longmire, one of the first American settlers, said upon arriving in Yelm:
Having received due notice from the Hudson Bay company not to settle on any lands north of the Nisqually River, we crossed the river and went to Yelm prairie, a beautiful spot. I thought as it lay before us covered with tall, waving grass, a pretty stream bordered with shrubs and tall trees, flowing through it, and the majestic mountain standing guard over all, in its snowy coat, it was a scene fit for an artist. Herds of deer wandered at leisure through the tall grass.
With the coming of the Northern Pacific Railway in 1873, Yelm began to prosper, having found an outlet for its agricultural and forestry products. Its economic base was further enhanced when an irrigation company created the Yelm Ditch in 1916, making Yelm a center for commercial production of beans, cucumbers, and berries.
Yelm was incorporated on December 8, 1924.
During the Great Depression, high maintenance costs and an unstructured water-distribution plan bankrupted the Yelm Irrigation Company.
On December 13, 1989, the Town of Yelm, a fourth-class municipality, was reorganized into a non-charter code city, resulting in the name being changed to the City of Yelm.
At the beginning of the 21st century, Yelm was the 10th-fastest-growing city in the state in population.
On January 27, 2026, the City of Yelm completed the largest annexation of land in the history of the city, comprising approximately 1,280 acres (520 ha) and 800 residents, bringing the total area to 7.724 square miles (20.01 km2) and a population of about 12,000 residents.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.